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[Jason Lewis CSP]

ISO the voices of the next generation of professional fund raisers. I have recently determined that development is to be my profession and wish to connect with other "under 40" professionals. Please share your successes as well as your frustrations as a young fund raiser.

[K.]

Hi Jason et al.:

I just wanted to give a short reply to your posting.  I'm a 24-year-old fund raiser with not quite three years of experience in development. Previous positions include serving as an assistant director for the annual fund of a small liberal-arts college, and I recently took a position with a nonprofit organization in the Northeast.  

In former positions, I was fortunate that administration trusted in my ability, and I was given a relatively high amount of responsibility for such a young professional.  I'm proud to say that I believe they made the right decision, as I was able to bring in a few considerable gifts before leaving the position to follow my husband to another part of the country.

I am now working for a much smaller organization, where my responsibilities are quite broad. My only frustration now is the fact that neither my title nor salary reflect that fact!  

I suppose my biggest concern is the fact that I am the only staff person with any development experience, and I spend a lot of energy trying to share with management those things I have learned in the past few years (i.e. the need for cultivation before solicitation, or the fact that they can't expect a positive response for a grant proposal written three hours before a deadline).  

In any case, I, too, would be interested in hearing more about the experiences of younger development professionals (especially whether or not you have decided to further your education, as that's something I'm beginning to consider). I look forward to reading more responses!

[E]

Jason, K, and other young fund raisers:

I am a recent college graduate working to enter the field of development in the Northeast with a great deal of difficulty and mixed advice. It has been difficult to find entry-level positions in the field despite my experiences in college with  event planning, grant research, program development and volunteer coordination.

I too have been interested in pursuing a master's degree to gain a better background and understanding of the public sector, however, some longtime fund raisers have advised that experience is the way to go and a degree will only be a waste of money. I feel that an M.P.A. would act like an M.B.A. does for business professionals. However, I fear that perhaps the nonprofit sector may not react to master's degrees the way the business world does. Any thoughts?

Also, for those of you who have been in this field for a few years, how did you get started? What advice do you have for those of us right out of college?

I look forward to hearing from you and wish you the best of luck with your fund raising!

[Scott]

I am going to have to disagree with the advice you have been given. While many people have risen to significant positions without a graduate degree or, in some cases, even an undergraduate degree, this is quickly becoming a rarity.

If one watches the job ads it become readily apparent that a master's degree is fast becoming the minimum for senior positions . . . i.e., those with six-figure salaries requiring more than 10 years' experience.

Go get your master's. If you are interested in a fund-raising career, check out the M.A. in philanthropy and development program at Saint Mary's University of Minnesota. As one of the early graduates of this program I have been very well served by it in my career as a consultant and senior university and hospital fund raiser.

Good luck!

[Sherry White]

"...some longtime fund raisers have advised that experience is the way to go and a degree will only be a waste of money. I feel that an M.P.A. would act like an M.B.A. does for business professionals. However, I fear that perhaps the nonprofit sector may not react to master's degrees the way the business world does. Any thoughts? "
                                                                   -E

OK, hopefully, I will soon break into fund raising in a non-profit group, and I am 24 years of age. At any rate, I have a good friend who is pursing an MPA nonprofit degree at  NYU, and she just loves her experiences. I do undertand how experience can beat out this type of degree, but nothing beats experience and this type of MPA nonprofit concentration, especially from a well-connected and very diverse university. Plus you could connect with faculty and  folks that come from seminars.

All in all, my friend is getting her degree for free, as she was in a youth excellence program since the age of 4. So, the average joe, like you and I who might not have these luxuries, need to weigh the options. Perhaps NYU has a certificate in nonprofit management or public administration. I don't know. Good luck!

[vstubbs]

To those of you interested in the fundraising, I am here to provide some advice to those of you who really want to break into the field.

Just a brief bio of what I do: I have worked for a private boarding school in MS for the past 5 years.  I currently work in The Office of Institutional Advancement as the Coordinator of Donor Information and Prospect Research. 

Advice #1: Don't work too long in a position that will burn you out.  I am the only person in my department who has the patience and time to train on the fundraising software Raiser's Edge (Blackbaud). 

Advice #2: Don't give away all you secrets.  I'm a very skilled individual with up-to-date knowledge and I am constantly the 'butt' of criticism for doing things the new way and not the old way.  The oldest individual in my department has been here 24 years and is considered the editor of all campus newsletters that go out.  She has no familiarity with Microsoft Word Programs and uses PageMaker for all programs.  I tried teaching her Adobe, but it did not work. 

Advice #3: Be weary of Bosses who attempt to micromanage.  I'm very outgoing (which is a requirement if you want to make $ in fundrasing) and I also do alot of research on our donors so when I do meet them or if my co-workers meet them, we will have a heads up. 

Advice #4: Join AFP (Association of Fundrasing Professionals).  It is the best way to network and meet people like you in the industry.  There is so much information can be received from this organization.

If anyone has any questions of me, feel free to email me anytime.

[shapefund]

In some ways I share your same concerns, (although there are, of course, major differences). I am in 12th grade and the Executive Director of an entirely student led grant making organization called the SHAPEfund. The fund awards grants to exceptional New York City non-profit organizations. In addition, the SHAPEfund serves as an innovative tool to educate the next generation of young people and to ensure a place for young people in the philanthropic world.

Operating within the five boroughs of New York City, the SHAPEfund provides
economic assistance to organizations that serves youth (0-18 years).
The SHAPEfund helps to enrich and improve children's lives by funding
initiatives that provide direct services in the following six issue
areas: Education; Health and Safety; Economic Empowerment; Leadership;
Arts and Culture, and the Environment. As a student-led and operated
organization, the SHAPEfund seeks to create a better New York City by
empowering its youth through philanthropy.

We would love to  hear from you! Email us at shapefund at gmail dot com with any further questions, comments, or suggestions.

[bestcomputer001]

I think you are doing a great work!

[re14forum]

everyone's got a point and every idea is great...
it surely is a very good idea to put up a fund raising activity like this...